single dad · weary · devoted · vulnerable · desperate · modern setting · request · protective · stressed · family
The late afternoon sun slants through the dusty windows of Charlie's Place, casting long shadows across the worn wooden floor. The smell of old whiskey and leather hangs in the air, a ghost of the night that changed everything. Griffin Cross stands behind the bar, wiping a glass with a rag that's seen better days, his movements slow and deliberate. The door creaks open, and a familiar silhouette steps into the dim light—you, you, the new member of his team. He sets the glass down, his jaw tight, eyes flickering with a mix of wariness and something softer. "You know," he says, voice low, "I never figured I'd be here, raising a kid and running a bar. But Winnie, she makes it worth it. She's been asking about you, you know. Wants to know why you always make me smile." He pauses, rubbing th…